Jon Rahm doesn’t apologize for PGA Tour criticism

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SAN DIEGO — Jon Rahm held on.

Last week, en route to finishing tied for 14th on the American Express, the world No. 1 was filmed expressing his extreme displeasure with the layout of the course in what is an annual birdie-fest in the region of Palm Springs, the one he captured in 2018.

As he walked from green to tee on the PGA West’s Nicklaus course during the second round, Rahm, who wears his emotions on his golf sleeve and has improved his ability to reign in his temper which has taken the over on himself a few times over the years, went off with an eight-word flurry with two expletives that made the video go viral.

“Configuration chunk (empty) (empty). Putting contest week,” he said.

Before Wednesday’s start of the Farmers’ Insurance Open in Torrey Pines, Rahm did not issue a direct apology. Yes, he admitted on Tuesday that his language should have been different. But he makes no apologies for his views on the setup.

“If I knew someone was recording I wouldn’t say it like I did, but I was thinking out loud and letting out some frustration because that’s how I felt, right ?” Rahm said. “I mean, the video is pretty self-explanatory. I mean, we’re the PGA Tour, we’re the best golfers on the planet, and we play on a golf course where missing the fairway means absolutely nothing.

“There were times when missing the fairway by an inch was worse than missing the fairway by 20 yards, that for me is a mistake. I also understand that we are in the desert, you can’t oversee everything the golf course and things like that can’t happen, but yeah, we’ve played a lot of golf with zero rough.

“No matter where you hit it, you’re going to be able to hit it on the green and it becomes a putting contest, who can make the putts. That’s about it, there’s no bounty for anything else.

“I can tell you straight away with the way I hit the ball last week and the way I put, if it was in, say, major league conditions, I probably wouldn’t have made the cut, let alone finished 14th, or I shouldn’t have, I think. I just think it was a bit too easy for the best players in the world.

“That’s just my opinion.”

Rahm won’t be disappointed with this week’s setup at Torrey Pines. There will be rough on the South and North courses, there will be a bonus put on each club in the bag, there will be a challenge.

In other words, it’s right up Rahm’s driveway.

The South Course, after all, hosted last year’s US Open, which Rahm won by one with birdies on the 71st and 72nd holes. He also won his first PGA Tour title with the Farmers in 2017 and has five top 10 finishes in all in six starts at Torrey Pines.

Rahm also got engaged to his wife, Kelley, on the hiking trails near Torrey Pines.

“It’s a golf course that I love, it’s a city that I love. Obviously I have great memories throughout my career here, my last victory being here as well,” he said. “Just really excited to be here. It’s one of those weeks that I look forward to every year. It looks like the weather is going to be great like it almost always does in San Diego and I hope I I can put in another solid performance like I have in the past.

Chances are he will. Rahm, 27, has won in Ireland, Spain, Dubai, California, Illinois and Ohio for the past three years. He has six titles on the PGA Tour, six others on the DP world Tour. He has been the world No. 1 player since July.

“Feeling confident, feeling comfortable,” he said. “Last week wasn’t my best week, I didn’t feel good with my swing. I felt as bad as can be and still managed to sneak into a top 15 which gives me a lot of confidence knowing what I’m working on is going on track and when I’m having a bad week , I can still post a score.

“Hopefully I can work out a few details in the next few weeks, but hopefully I can start playing well this week.”

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